Ernest Gilbert Reeves
Service Number 16146, a Corporal in the 9th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. Born in Wimbledon 13th March1897, he was stationed at Kingston Barracks, Surrey in 1911. He was the son of George Reeves – a labourer – and Sarah Reeves of 31, Dryden Road, Wimbledon. He was baptised, along with his twin sister Elizabeth Maud, in All Saints’ Church, South Wimbledon by the Rev. Pickering November 24th 1897. He joined the army in Kingston and was killed in action at Flanders 7th October 1916. He is buried in grave III.D.21.BEAULENCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY,LIGNY-THILLOY
Ligny-Thilloy
James William Ridout
Service Number G/6652, a Private in the 21st Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment. Born in Croydon in about 1888, James William Ridout is likely to be the husband of Mary of 64, Wilford Road, Croydon. He was a Carman by trade and they had one daughter. He died 23rd March 1918 and is commemorated on Bay 7. ARRAS MEMORIAL
Henry John Robinson
Service Number 46805, a Sergeant of 48th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Born in Wimbledon 9th February 1894, he was the son of John – the Manager of a Flour Mill – and Mrs. Susannah. S. Robinson, of Jessamine Cottage, 16, Wandlebank, Wimbledon. John was baptised at All Saints Church, Wimbledon in October 1910. After leaving school, he became a Gas Worker and later an engineer. He applied to join the army in 1914 but was refused due to palpitations and opted instead to join the Police Force. His second application to the army was accepted and in 1915 he joined the 2nd Battalion, Life Guards, part of the Household Cavalry. His enlistment papers described him as 6 ft., 1 ins. tall, weighing 11 stone, with a fresh complexion and grey eyes. John transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in August 1916 and was promoted three times, becoming acting corporal in December 1916, Corporal in February 1917 and Sergeant in February 1918. He achieved this final rank in an acting, unpaid capacity. He was working with a training squadron at Waddington airbase, Lincoln in 1918, seemingly as a pilot. He was killed, aged 24, on 23rd March when one of his aircraft’s controls jammed, resulting in a tail slide. He was buried in grave D. A1. 30. Cemetery WIMBLEDON (GAP ROAD) CEMETERY. His gravestone bears the epitaph “Devoted son – Rest in Peace.” His father received his effects of £16 9s 2d. No. 48 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed at Netheravon, Wiltshire, on 15th April 1916. The squadron was posted to France in March 1917 and became the first fighter squadron to be equipped with the Bristol Fighter. One of the squadron’s commanders was – then Major – Keith Park who later led No. 11 Group of Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain as an Air Vice Marshal. The squadron became part of the Royal Air Force when the Royal Flying Corps merged with the Royal Naval Air Service in 1918.
Frank Rose
Service Number 8054, a Lance Corporal in the 1st Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry. He is likely to have been the husband of Mary of 103, Russell Road, Wimbledon, and was likely to have been born in Bere Regis, Dorset about 1883. He was a Bar-Keeper by trade. He died from wounds in Ploegsteert dressing station 27th October 1914 and is buried at THE STRAND MILITARY CEMETERY. His effects were sent to various members of his family.
Henry Beaconsfield Russell
Service Number 320659, a Sergeant in the 6th Battalion of the London Regiment (City of London Rifles). He was the only son of John Wiseman Russell (an Ironmonger’s Stockman – deceased by the outbreak of war) and Ellen Rosina Russell (born Elmsley Island, Kent 1862), of 221, Haydons Road, Wimbledon. Henry was born on 1st April 1888 in London and baptised at S. Peter’s Battersea. A Railway Clerk by trade, he married Bertha Cecilia Stolls from Balham (whilst serving as a Sergeant in Ipswich 23/10/15). Their only son Theodore Henry David Russell was born on 22nd June 1917 in Balham. Henry’s career in the railway began when he was 12 years old and he volunteered for military service on 4th September 1914. He was captured at Flanders and died as a Prisoner-of-War at Dulmen Camp on 24th June 1917 (Two days after the birth of their son). He is buried in Grave – X. D. 12.COLOGNE SOUTHERN CEMETERY. The National Archives record that he received the Victory Medal and British Medal.
Charles Searle
Service Number 10148, a Corporal in the 2nd Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment. Born in Merton in 1895, he was the son of Samuel Searle – a Labourer – and Emily Ann Searle of 36, Laburnum Road, Wimbledon and a Draper’s Apprentice by trade. He joined the army in Kingston and died of wounds at a casualty clearing station 30th May 1915. He is buried at BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, NORD. His effects – £20 1s 6d – were sent to his father.
Frederick Shoebridge
Service Number 7278, a Private in the East Surrey Regiment. Born in Croydon about 1893, he worked as a Potman and was the son of Frederick Shoebridge – a General Labourer – and Ada Mary Ann Shoebridge of 118, South Road, Wimbledon. They had five children. He enlisted at Kingston and died of wounds 10th January 1916. He is buried at the S.SEVER CEMETERY, ROUEN. Ref A.16.7
Wilfred D. Simpson
Service Number 29301, a Private in the 7th Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. Born in 1899 and one of four children, he was the son of William Simpson – a Carman – and Helen Simpson of 51, South Road, Wimbledon (Later 2, Tennyson Road). He was posted as ‘presumed dead’ at Flanders 30th November 1917 at the age of 19. He is commemorated on Panel 6.CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL. His effects totalled £12 7s 7d and were sent to his father.
Alfred James Smith
Service Number 41274, a Private in the 9th Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment. It was likely that he was born in Wandsworth in 1878 and the husband of Agnes of 179, Haydons Road, South Wimbledon. A Grocer by trade, he joined the army in Wimbledon and was killed in action 20th April 1918. His body was never recovered for burial and he is commemorated – with 34, 995 others – at the TYNE COT MEMORIAL. His widow received £15 13s 8d
William Nelson Snook
Service Number L/5276, a Lance Corporal in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. He was born in Lavington, Wiltshire in 1882 and baptised at Urchfont in the same County. He was the son of Amos and Maria Snook. He enlisted in Hounslow and possibly lived at 53, Laburnum Road, Wimbledon. He was killed in action at Gallipoli 5th June 1915 on the second day of the Third Battle of Krithia. He is commemorated on the HELLES MEMORIAL, GALLIPOLI. His father Amos received his effects totalling £20 15s 11d.
Charles Stedman
Service Number G/2100, a Private in the 7th Battalion of the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Born in Wimbledon about 1890, he was the son of John & Mary Jane Stedman – a Charwoman – of 49a, Cowper Road, Wimbledon. A Potman by trade, he was one of five brothers – one of whom also fell. He joined the army in Wimbledon and died at Flanders of wounds 29th June 1916. He is buried in grave B. 5. LA NEUVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY, CORBIE
John Stedman
Service Number 4342, a Lance Corporal in the 7th Battalion, ‘C’ Company, the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). A Labourer by trade, he was born in Wimbledon about 1892. He was the son of John & Mary Jane Stedman – a Charwoman – of 49a, Cowper Road, Wimbledon, and the husband of Mrs. Alice. N. E. Stedman, of 7, Milton Road, Wimbledon. He joined the army in Codford, Wiltshire and died of wounds in France 16th July 1916 at the age of 23. His grave is Plot 1. Row D. Grave 43. CORBIE COMMUNAL CEMETERY. His brother Charles also fell. His effects of £13 8s were sent to his widow.
Edward Arthur Stephens
Service Number G/68627, a Private in the 8th Battalion of the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Born in Wimbledon about 1900, he was one of six children and the son of Arthur Stephens (born Crockham Hill, Kent 1872 – a Domestic Gardener), and Mercy Stephens (born Steyning, Sussex 1873), of 22, Laburnum Rd, South Wimbledon. The family had eight children: – May Harriet, Dora Jane (born 1897), Edward Arthur (born Wimbledon 1900), Elsie Ruth (born Wimbledon 1901), Arthur William (born Wimbledon 1903), Violet May (born Wimbledon 1905), Thomas (born Tooting 1907) and Gladys Annie (born Tooting 1911). Edward enlisted at Wimbledon and died of wounds 13th October 1918 at the age of 19. He is buried in grave I. E. 24.DELSAUX FARM CEMETERY, BEUGNY . His life was valued at just 7s 1d, all of which was sent to his mother Mercy, by now widowed.
Frederick William Stone
Service Number 31631, a Private in the 1st Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment. Born in Earlsfield, Surey, he enlisted at Wimbledon. He was killed in action 4th October 1917. He is commemorated at the TYNE COT MEMORIAL. His effects were sent to his Mother Louisa – they totalled £4 12s 12d.
James F. W. Stopher
Service Number G/69984, a Private in the 17th Battalion, ‘B’ Company of the Royal Fusiliers. Born in Mitcham in 1898, he was the son of James Stopher (born Ipswich 1858 – a General Labourer), and Martha Esther Stopher (born Mitcham 1865 – a charwoman) of 6, Laburnum Road, Wimbledon. Martha had given birth to eight children, two of whom had died and two of whom were still living at home in 1911: – James (born Mitcham 1898 – a schoolboy), and Charles (born Mitcham 1902 – a schoolboy). James died 18th March 1918 at the age of 19. His grave is IV. 89. MITCHAM (CHURCH ROAD) BURIAL GROUND
Walter Suter
Service Number L/11630, a Private in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. He was born in Littlehampton, Sussex and enlisted in London. He was killed in action in ‘The Balkan Theatre’ 25th April 1915 and is commemorated at the HELLES MEMORIAL.
All Saints' Church, South Wimbledon 